Typhoon Sendong (international name:  Washi), which hit the Philippines over the weekend, caused massive flooding especially in Region 10.  Hardly hit were the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.

As of this writing, Sendong has left 957 dead.  The number is still expected to increase as 49 people are still missing. 1,582 were injured while 432 were rescued.  A total of 338,415 people in 260 barangays were affected.

The Philippine Embassy enjoins the public to help by donating to the relief efforts.  Monetary assistance is preferred over in-kind donations for sanitation issues and to ensure that the needs of those affected are addressed faster.

• Monetary Donations

Cash or cheque donations may be sent to the following:

Government

1.      National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)

Bank:  Development Bank of the Philippines, Camp Aguinaldo Branch

Address:  PVAO Compound, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

Account No. 0435-021927-130

Account Name:  NDRRMC Donated Funds

Swift Code:  DBPHPMM Account#36002016

Focal Person:  Ms. Rufina Pascual , Collecting Officer, Office of Civil Defense, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines

Tel. No. +632-4211920

2.      Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Bank Account No. 3124-0055-81 (Landbank of the Philippines, Batasan, Quezon City Branch)

Focal Person:  Ms. Fe Catalina Ea, Cash Division

Tel. No. +632-931-8010 local 226 (landline ) or +63918-6281897 (mobile)

Non-Government

1.      Philippine National Red Cross

Bank of the Philippine Islands

Account Name:  The Philippine Red Cross

Peso: 4991-0036-52

Dollar: 004994-0103-15

Swift Code:  BOPIPHMM

2.      Sagip Kapamilya

Account Name:  ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. – Sagip Kapamilya

Account No. 393-011-4199 (Banco De Oro Scout Albano Branch)

Swift Code:  BNO RPH MM

3.      GMA Kapuso Foundation

Philippine National Bank

Account Name:  GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.

Peso Saving Account No. 121-003200017

Dollar Savings Account No. 121-003200025

Swift Code:  PNB MPH MM

• Whereabouts of Relatives and Friends

For information on relatives and friends in the affected areas, the public may contact the NDRRMC Operations Center at:

Telefax:  NDRRMC OpcCen +632-911-1406; 912-2665; 912-5668

NDRRMC Secretariat +63-912-0441; 912-5947

Office of Civil Defense +632-912-2424

Emails:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• Updates on the Ground

Situation reports on the affected areas may be accessed via the NDRRMC website www.ndrrmc.gov.ph

The Philippine Embassy’s Mobile Consular Team was able to successfully service 720 ePassport applicants during its consular mission conducted in Perth, Western Australia on 9 – 10 December 2011. 

Initially, the expected number of applicants numbered around 300 but more than double that figure showed up for the weekend outreach.  This was the highest recorded number of ePassport applications serviced by the Philippine Embassy in Australia this year.

Through the Mobile Mission, the Embassy was able to service those who were affected by the cut-off in the issuance of machine-readable passports (MRP) and the consequent full implementation of the Philippine ePassport last year.   

The conduct of the mobile mission spared the passport applicants from having to travel to the Philippine Canberra since the ePassport system requires personal appearance of applicants for photo and fingerprint capture.   

Aside from processing of passport applications, the consular team also administered the oath of allegiance to 36 Filipino dual citizens and accommodated applications for report of birth and report of marriage.

The four-man Mobile Team was composed of Administrative Officer Carlo Estole and Consular Assistants Ronaldo Pilapil, Joel Bulos and Ricardo Antipolo.  Mr. Gerald Donnelly, Philippine Honorary Consul General in Perth and members of the Filipino community extended invaluable assistance to the team.

The consular mission to Perth was the fourth conducted by the Embassy this year.  Earlier, mobile teams were dispatched to Toowomba and Brisbane in Queensland in March, Alice Springs and Darwin in the Northern Territory in May and Melbourne in Victoria in July. 

In support of the One-Country Team approach, Philippine Ambassador to Canberra Belen F. Anota met with the Philippine Honorary Consuls and Consuls General to Australia and Vanuatu for a workshop on 14 November 2011.

Ambassador Anota emphasized to the honorary consular officials that “We are Team Philippines.  Therefore we should be on the same page and we move Australia together in one direction.”

Ambassador Anota gave particular emphasis to the Department of Foreign Affairs’ mandate from President Benigno S. Aquino III to promote economic diplomacy and encouraged the honorary consuls and consuls general to work closely in partnership with the Embassy in achieving this goal.

During the one-day workshop, Philippine Trade and Investment Representative Michelle Fatima Sanchez, Tourism Representative Consuelo Jones, Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Capt. Ernesto Enriquez and Labor Attaché Atty. Jalilo Dela Torre gave brief presentations on what is happening in their areas and how the honorary consular officials can help them in achieving their targets and ultimately, contributing to the over-all Country Team effort.

A mere three days after her arrival in Canberra, new Philippine Ambassador to Australia H.E. Belen F. Anota presented her letters of credence to H.E. Quentin Bryce, Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Ferried from the Philippine Residence to Government House in a Crown car, the Philippine envoy was honored with a general salute by Australia’s Federation Guard, under Guard Commander Captain Kathryn Christie.

Led into the drawing room of Government House, Ambassador Anota was received by a resplendent Governor General.  Clad in an elegant terno of iridescent malong fabric – a visual statement of Philippine multiculturalism and unity -- the Philippine envoy formally presented her letters of credence.

It will be noted that Ambassadors, as representatives of their Heads-of-State, are required to present their letters of credence to the Head-of-State of their countries of assignment.  Ambassador Anota, being the representative of President Benigno Aquino III, thus had to present her credentials to Governor General Bryce, the representative of the Queen, who is Head-of-State of the Commonwealth of Australia.